Our daily mass shootings

We may not realize the extent of the carnage because the small mass shootings are dwarfed by the news of the big mass shootings. Mass shootings are when four or more people are shot, but not necessarily killed. Large or small, the outcome is the same: Americans are dying because of ready access to a gun.

Why do we demand justice and call for a ceremonial moment of silence for the big shootings but remain quiet for the small ones?

Rep. Jackie Speier. D-Hillsborough, says she will stay silent no more. She will stand on the floor of Congress and read out the names of those killed in the past month. Here is what she said today:

“Since 1970, more Americans have died from domestic gun violence than in every war going back to the Revolution. I’ve had enough of Congress’ failure to lead. So each week that we are in session, I will read on the House floor the names of those shot to death the previous month. Instead of Congress’ usual hollow moment of silence after a mass shooting occurs, I will speak the name of every person killed in a mass shooting each week. I will also create my own Memorial Wall, in the hallway outside my office.

Here are the stories of some of the victims of the 18 mass shootings in January of this year. There have been so many people this month affected by mass shootings, that I don’t have time to list the injured, just those who were killed.

David Washington, 24, Enedia Branch, 31, and Angelica Guadalupe Castro, 23, were killed in a house on Jan. 6, in Lakeland Fla.

Antoine Bell, 17, was killed while helping a woman with car trouble, on Jan. 7 in Memphis, Tenn.

Raymon Blount, 9, was killed while standing on the street, on Jan. 8 in Chicago.

Ira Brown, 20, was killed on Jan.11 during a home robbery in Wilmington, Del.

Joshua Steven Morrison, 18, was killed near a house party on Jan. 17 in Gloucester County, Va.

Randy Peterson, 64, was a bank president killed during a robbery on Jan. 21 in Eufaula, Okla.

Kevin McGrath Sr., 47 and Shanna McGrath, 42, were killed at their family home on Jan. 23 in Crestview, Fla. Elbert L. Merrick III, 22, was killed outside the home on the road.

Jason and Jacob McLemore, a father and son 44 and 17, were killed at the gun store they owned in a dispute over a $25 service fee. This was on Jan. 23 in Pearl River County, Miss.

An unidentified man was killed at a Mexican restaurant, on Jan. 25 in Perris, Calif.

James Quoc Tran, 33 and Jeannine L. Zapata, 45, were killed at a homeless encampment, on Jan. 26 in Seattle, Wash.

The Dooley family, including mother Lori, father Todd, son Landon, daughter Brooke and grandmother Doris were killed at their family home, on Jan. 27, in Chesapeake, Va. The shooter, their son Cameron Dooley, committed suicide after murdering his family.

Andre Gray, 42, and Tina Gray, 42, were killed at their family home, on Jan. 29 in Caroline County, Va.

Sean Marquez, 19, Jose Aguirre-Martinez, 19, and Yovani Flores, 16, were killed at a house party, on Jan. 30 in Glendale, Ariz. Marquez died in his sister’s arms.

Victor Mendoza, 46, was killed at a motorcycle show in Denver on Jan. 30.

May the dead rest in peace, and the wounded recover quickly and completely. I urge my colleagues to join me in taking swift action to stop the bloodshed.”